Help please to find who Nellie Leslie is

[Forfarian]

Jane Fairweather Leslie, daughter of William Leslie and Jane Anderson, died in 1929 in Keith, Banffshire. She left a will bequeathing the bulk of her property to her niece Nellie Leslie, Mullburn, Newbiggin, Carlisle.

Jane had four brothers and seven sisters. Six of the sisters and two of the brothers died unmarried, and neither of the brothers who married had a daughter named Helen or Ellen.

The seventh sister was Helen Leslie, born 1857, whom I can find in the 1881 census but not in 1891 or later. I do not know whether or not she married, and I have yet to find her death.

Can anyone suggest an avenue of investigation into the mystery niece?

I have checked the 1921 census and none of the Helen/Nellie Leslies then in Cumberland could be the one to whom Jane Fairweather Leslie left her goods and chattels.

[ShaunJ]

There's mention of a child named Nellie Leslie of Milburn in the Carlisle Journal 20 June 1911 (4th prize for needlework at the Milburn Gala)

[ShaunJ]

Possibly Nelly Dickson (or Dixon) Leslie. Looks like an illegitimate birth in East Ward RD in 2Q 1901.

She's boarding in Milburn in 1911.

[ShaunJ]

In 1911 Nelly is boarding with Mary Armstrong in Milburn.

In 1901 Mrs Armstrong has a visitor: Isabella Leslie, aged 31, born Scotland

[Forfarian]

Thank you!

So it looks suspiciously as if Aunt Tibbie had an interesting past. I'll get a copy of the birth certificate.

(I wonder why Jane put the address down as Carlisle? It seems to be in Westmorland, quite a way from Carlisle.)

[wivenhoe]

When was the Will written?

Who were the executors...the people who would have located niece Nellie LESLIE?

What property did Nellie inherit?.

[Forfarian]

My notes don't include the date of the will. The executor was Isabella Hay or Taylor, wife of James Taylor MD, Ugie House, Keith. The exact property was not itemised.

As far as I am aware, Isabella Hay was no relation. She was certainly not a close relation.

Jane lived in Keith with some of her sisters, including Isabella, who outlived her and died in 1960. So if Nellie was Isabella's daughter, I doubt that it would have been difficult to trace her.

[scotmum]

Marriage:

Leslie
Nellie D
1925
East Ward, Westmoreland
to
William H Thompson

possibly in Sedbergh, Yorkshire by 1939

then likely death in 1991:

Thompson
Nellie Dickson
1901
1991
Kendal, Westmorland, England

Husband pre-deceased her:

Thompson
William Hulse
1900
1971
Sedbergh, Yorkshire, England

[ShaunJ]

I wonder why Jane put the address down as Carlisle? It seems to be in Westmorland, quite a way from Carlisle

"Milburn, Newbiggin, Carlisle" is exactly the address that Mary Jane Armstrong entered on the 1911 census form.